Former Chelsea player Craig Burley has not held back in his criticism of Mikel Arteta, accusing the Arsenal manager of running out of excuses for the Gunners’ struggles this season. Speaking on ESPN FC, Burley argued that Arsenal’s disappointing Premier League campaign is not due to injuries or bad luck but rather poor recruitment and underwhelming performances from their new signings.

For two consecutive seasons, Arsenal has been touted as strong title contenders. Yet, despite their apparent progress, they once again find themselves far off the pace, trailing league leaders Liverpool by 15 points with just 10 games left. The Gunners’ recent 1-1 draw against Manchester United marked their third consecutive failure to secure a win, raising questions about their consistency and ability to challenge at the highest level.

Burley minced no words when pointing out the flaws in Arteta’s approach:

“It’s become quite an embarrassment from Arsenal in terms of this title challenge. They are now 15 points behind Liverpool. It’s not the referee’s fault, it’s not just because Bukayo Saka is injured, not because Kai Havertz is injured, not because everybody is against them, which was the mindset for a lot of this season.”

He continued by highlighting Arsenal’s inability to create clear-cut chances against a struggling Manchester United side:

“How many saves did Onana make in that first half with all that possession for Arsenal? I can’t think of any. You’re not terrific if your end product is lackluster or non-existent.”

Opinion: Arteta Needs More Than Excuses to Prove Arsenal Are Title Contenders

Burley’s comments may sound harsh, but he has a point. Arsenal’s problem isn’t just about lacking a clinical striker; it’s about their entire attacking setup and creativity in the final third. They dominate possession yet fail to convert their superiority into meaningful opportunities.

Blaming injuries or refereeing decisions doesn’t cover up the reality: Arsenal's recruitment and tactics need improvement. The club brought in new players over the summer, but so far, they haven’t made the desired impact. It’s not enough to just dominate possession; the Gunners must start delivering when it truly matters.

Arteta still has time to turn things around this season, but if Arsenal continues to stumble, the questions will only grow louder. Are Arsenal truly progressing under Arteta, or are they just spinning their wheels in a familiar pattern of frustration?

What do you think? Are Burley’s criticisms fair, or is Arsenal’s problem deeper than recruitment and tactics?